Wal-Mart Moves to Take a Bite Out of Apple

New online music store undercuts iTunes, lifts limits on copying
By Zach Samalin,  Newser Staff
Posted Aug 21, 2007 5:20 PM CDT

Seeking to wrest control of the market from Apple, Wal-Mart today launched an online music store that undercuts iTunes by 5 cents per song. More important, the retail behemoth has dropped DRM copyright protection, which means customers can burn as many CDs as they like and play songs on any MP3 player, the Motley Fool reports.

Wal-Mart will still offer WMA-format music, but its move puts pressure on record labels to offer their catalogs without DRM and leaves Apple in an unfamiliar position: playing catch-up. iTunes offers music by EMI artists DRM-free; they're higher quality than protected options but cost an extra 30 cents per tune. (More Walmart stories.)

Get the news faster.
Tap to install our app.
X
Install the Newser News app
in two easy steps:
1. Tap in your navigation bar.
2. Tap to Add to Home Screen.

X